Veteran Malayalam singer Udayabhanu dead

Malayalam playback singer KP Udayabhanu, who had been undergoing treatment for Parkinson's disease for several months, passed away in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday. He was 77.

Malayalam playback singer KP Udayabhanu, who had been undergoing treatment for Parkinson's disease for several months, passed away in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday. He was 77.

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"For nearly a year he had been undergoing treatment for Parkinson's disease. He breathed his last this evening at his residence at around 9pm," a family source said.

Born to NS Varma and Ammu Nethyaramma at Tharur in Palakkad on June 6, 1936, Bhanu's passion for music was passed on to him by his uncle KP Appukutta Menon, a scholar in music.

At the age of seven, he learnt music from legends such as Palghat TS Mani Iyer, MD Ramanathan, Palghat Rama Bhagavathar and Flute Krishna Iyer.

He started his career as an announcer in All India Radio in 1955. Three years later, music director K Raghavan offered him the opportunity to sing in Malayalam film Nair Pidicha Pulival.

Udayabhanu had since then crooned over 50 songs. Some of his evergreen hits include Ponvalayillenkilum, Thamara Thumbi Vava and Vellinakshathrame.

He had also composed music for films such as Samasya and Mayilpeeli. In 2009, Udayabhanu was conferred with the Padmashri award.

His last song was Kaatu Paranjadum from the 2010 film Thanthonni.

He is survived by his son Rajeev.